Advanced gutter system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an advanced rain gutter system for preventing the blockage of a rain gutter system on a building roof. The system includes a shield having a first end zone adapted for connection to the roof and a second end zone which forms a curved shaped lip and the lip is in near touching contact with the gutter, substantially covering the gutter without doing so completely.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to building structures and moreparticularly to devices which are used to protect such structures fromrain and similar elements and most particularly to devices used toprotect rain gutters and the like from being clogged and rendereduseless.

Rain gutters provide a critical service to building. They disperse waterand similar fluid and protect the building from water and similardamage. Most commonly building codes provide for such rain gutters whichmust conform to certain prescribed functional and structuralrequirements. These rules and regulations are designed to protect thebuilding and to facilitate inspections.

However, upon completion of the building and the issuance of thecertificate of occupancy, no further inspections are required and oftenthe gutters can become clogged with debris, such as leaves or the like.While, periodic cleaning of the gutters is often sufficient to keep thegutters unclogged, on occasion a storm can occur wherein the guttersbecome clogged and useless. Also, constant maintenance of the guttersrequires maintenance costs.

What is needed is a device which allows the gutter to function normally,but prevents and at the very least deters clogs. The device shouldconform to all building regulations while being able to be easilyadapted to current roofing and new roofing as it becomes available

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a system whereby a gutteris fully functional and yet protected from clogging.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide such a system,which easily is adapted to existing conditions, namely existing andnewly constructed roofs.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide such a systemthat is inexpensive to install and durable.

In accordance with the above objects and those that will be mentionedand will become apparent below, the advanced roof gutter system inaccordance with this invention, comprises:

a gutter having an opening for collecting rain and like weatherelements;

a shield, including a first end zone and a second end zone,

the first end zone being adapted for connection with the roof and thesecond end zone defining a curved portion and adapted to be in coveringproximity of the rain gutter opening and covering a substantial portionof the opening without covering the opening completely.

In an exemplary embodiment of the advanced roof gutter system inaccordance with this invention, the first end zone is sized and shapedto conform to the shape of the roof and adapted for connection to theroof.

In another exemplary embodiment of the advanced roof gutter system inaccordance with this invention, the shield is adapted to be connected toa flat slanted roof, wherein the first end zone is flat and the secondend zone forms a curved shaped lip and the lip is near touching contactwith the gutter.

It is an advantage of this invention to a provide an advanced roofgutter system in accordance with this invention, which works in aconventional manner by dispelling fluids from the roof and yet preventstraditional clogging of leaves and debris and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of the presentinvention, reference should be had to the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, inwhich like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the advanced roof gutter system inaccordance with this invention illustrating its application to the roof.

FIGS. 2 is a perspective view of the shield of the advanced roof guttersystem in accordance with this invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view illustrating the advanced roof guttersystem in accordance with this invention in place on a typical setting,used for parallel parking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with respect to FIG. 1, whichillustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention shown generally bythe numeral 10 attached to a building 12.

The advanced roof gutter system in accordance with this inventionincludes a shield 14 attached to the roof of the building 12. The shield14 partially covers a rain gutter 16, also attached to the building 12.As will be explained more fully with respect to FIG. 3, the shield 14mostly covers the rain gutter opening, but still allows fluid such asrain to enter the rain gutter so that the rain gutter can function in anormal manner.

The shield is curved shaped as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In fact, in crosssection, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, an exemplary embodimentresembles a question mark. This shape provides the shield 14 with thefunctionality necessary to be attached to the roof and to partiallycover the drain opening while allowing the drain to function as it wasdesigned.

The shield has a first end zone 20 and a second end zone 22. The firstend zone 20 is shaped to conform to the shape of the roof and forms theattachment structure which connects the shield to the roof. If the roofhas a curved shape, the first end zone 20 will similarly be curvedshaped. In any exemplary embodiment, the first end zone will conform tothe shape of the roof to facilitate connection.

The second end zone 22 is shaped to cover, partially, the open end ofthe gutter in a typical gutter so that it performs its function whilecovering the open end from blockages created by leaves and other debris.

As shown particularly with respect to FIG. 3 the second end zone definesa curved shaped lip 26. The closed shaped lip 26 is in near touchingcontact with the outer edge of the gutter wall. 28. Of course, the lip26 cannot be in touching contact with the rain gutter or the rain andsimilar fluids will not be dispersed along the rain gutter and drain(FIG. 1).

While the foregoing detailed description has described severalembodiments of the advanced gutter system in accordance with thisinvention, it is to be understood that the above description isillustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention.Particularly, while certain shaped have been illustrated and described,these shapes are by no means limiting. The shapes are illustrated anddescribed are so in the exemplary embodiments so that they can functionin a manner consistent with the objects and advantages of the invention.Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the claims as set forthbelow.

1. An advanced roof gutter system, including a gutter having an openingfor collecting rain and like weather elements, the system comprising: ashield, including a first end zone and a second end zone, the first endzone being adapted for connection with the roof and the second end zonedefining a curved portion and adapted to be in covering proximity of therain gutter opening and covering a substantial portion of the openingwithout covering the opening completely.
 2. The advanced roof guttersystem as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first end zone is sized andshaped to conform to the shape of the roof and adapted for connection tothe roof.
 3. The advanced roof gutter system as set forth in claim 1,wherein the second end forms a curved shaped lip and the lip is in neartouching contact with the gutter.
 4. The advanced roof gutter system asset forth in claim 1, wherein the shield resembles a question mark incross section.
 5. The advanced roof gutter system as set forth in claim1, wherein the shield is adapted to be connected to a flat slanted roof,wherein the first end zone is flat and the second end zone forms acurved shaped lip and the lip is near touching contact with the gutter.